Inora Pierce

Inora Loys Pierce, 87, of Panama, OK passed away Tuesday, November 10, 2020 at her home.  Inora was born December 1, 1932 in Norman, OK to Lotis Rue & Laura Mollie (McMillin) Lockaby.  Inora was a faithful member of Panama First Baptist Church; VFW Post in Spiro.  She met and married the love of her life Eugene Pierce (12/26/1950). She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Eugene; brothers, Alton Lockaby, Buck Lockaby,Troy Lockaby & Cecil McDonald; nephews, Doug Lockaby & Bobby Lockaby ; niece, Patricia Walters.

 Survivors include daughters, Pam McMillin and Paula Moran; sons, Robert Pierce & Rodney Pierce; grandchildren, Brent & Brandon Butler, Misty Thompson, Mindy Hale, Christy Coker, Jennifer Teague, Brittany Dill, Braxton & Kyle Pierce, Erica Cooper; 27 great grandchildren; 1 great great grandchild; special friend, Hollie Hall; other relatives, loved ones and friends. A special thanks to Jackie & Birdie (caregivers); Healthback Home Health , Mercy Ft. Smith, and Heart of Hospice who were angels sent from God!

 Services will be 10 am Friday, November 13, 2020 at First Baptist Church, Panama, OK with Dale Lowrimore officiating.  Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery.  Pallbearers will be David Holley, Harlan Hale, Colby Teague, Bobby Coker, Casey Dill, Sammy Pierce.  Honorary pallbearers will be Brent & Brandon Butler, Dayton Teague, Canon Shoup, Maverick Dill, Dax & Drew Butler, Kyle Pierce.                                             The family will be at the funeral home on Thursday evening from 6-8 pm to visit with relatives & friends.

Jane Ann Bennett-Inge

 

JANE ANN BENNETT-INGE , 65, of Billings, OK was born September 28, 1955 in Poteau.  She was called to her heavenly home November 6, 2020

          Her final days were spent surrounded by family and friends that she had touched in some small way throughout her life. She was a Loving wife, mother, Nana, sister and friend

          She was a Loving wife & mother, caring sister and a kind grandmother to 4 wonderful grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. She departed on her journey home, to the land of milk and honey, where the streets are paved with gold and there is no sickness or pain, on November 6, 2020 at her home in Billings, OK.  She was so full of life and love and if you never had one of her Hugs or conversation with her you missed out.  She loved to talk and most of the time it was hard to get a word in.

          Jane Ann (Gabby) as most of you knew her was born on in Poteau, Ok. to John Andrew Sr. and Marguerite Bennett.   She graduated from Poteau High School and was very active with sports.  She loved hunting, riding and shooting guns, karate and telling a good joke.  She loved to make people laugh.  Helping people achieve success with their goals in life was her mission. 

          She was a character with a capital “C”, she was known as much for her generosity and Love as she was for her Hugs and sense of humor. She loved Shady Point as much as Billings and shrimp as much as peanut butter.  She made the best deviled eggs and pumpkin rolls that you ever tasted.  She loved playing a good hand of UNO with her grandsons and family, plus I even remember her trying to teach us how to do Sudoku’s.  She played a mean game of softball and loved to sing gospel music.

She was married on Valentine Day 2002. She married the love of her life and soul mate Allen Inge.  She enjoyed working with her husband on the ranch.  I am just a country girl at heart.  Jane Ann was preceded in death by her mother and father, John A and Marguerite Bennett.

           Left to cherish her wonderful memories is Allen her husband: One daughter, Mollie Cooper and her husband Dusty Cooper of Ozark, Ar.;  one son  Cole Forsberg and his wife Megan of Tulsa, Ok.; one Step daughter, Stephanie Aikman and husband TJ of San Antonio TX,  two brothers,  John A Bennett, Jr and wife Diana of Poteau, Kermit Bennett and wife Michelle of Hodgen, Ok.; 3 Grandsons, Troy, Wyatt and Robert Cooper of Ozark Ar.; granddaughter, Eliot Forsberg; numerous nieces and nephews and many family and loving friends. 

Jane has a gift for being open and sharing with her love and affection

          The Grave side services will be at Oakland Cemetery Pavilion,  Poteau, OK at 2 pm, Wednesday, November 11, 2020 with Steve Hughes and Jim Cook officiating.

          In lieu of flowers memorials in Jane Ann’s name may be made to GCT- Ovarian Cancer Research Center, with Evans-Miller Funeral Home serving as custodian of funds.

          The family will be at the funeral home on Tuesday evening  from 6-8 pm to visit with relatives & friends.

 

 

 

Tommy Billy

 

Thomas “Tommy” Ray Billy, 74, of Howe, OK passed away Thursday, November 5, 2020 in Ft. Smith, AR.  Tommy was born April 7, 1946 in McCurtain, OK to William Albert Sr. & Rina (Griffith) Billy.  He was a 16 year veteran of the US Army.    Tommy loved OU football; hunting and crappie fishing.  He loved his family.  He sTommy was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, William JR., James & Edmond Billy; sister, Mary Jo Durant and grandson, Douglas Byrd.

 Survivors include his daughters, Bobbi Jo & Carmelino Perez; Tammy Lane, Diana & James Holdman, Tina Avery;  grandchildren, Marcos Martinez Billy, Christian Perez Billy, Stefanie & Jason Ivy, Tori Crawford, Christyl Morgan, Thomas Erickson, Tylane Lane; great grandchildren, Stormy Ivey, Nathan Maxwell, Kennedie Williams; numerous brothers, sisters, other relatives, loved ones and friends.

 Services will be 10 am, Monday, November 9, 2020 at Trinity Baptist Church, Poteau, OK with Leonard Hill & LeRoy Billy officiating.  Pallbearers will be Christopher Moody, Bud Pierce, Michael Rodriguez, Rogelio Sanchez, Christian Alverez, Carlos Juarez.  Honorary pallbearers will be Marcos Billy, & Christian Billy.

 The family will be at the funeral home on Sunday from 2-5 pm to visit with relatives & friends.

Billy Willard

    Billy Gene Willard was born Monday, October 7, 1929, in a little house by the side of Hughes Road between Hughes and LeFlore, Oklahoma.  His parents were Benjamin Wesley Willard and Johnnie Margaret Brooks, and Papa was one of five children that included Emma Lou, J.W., Ben, and David.  They made their living farming the bottom lands of the creeks that surround LeFlore and hunting everything in the woods, most notably rabbits and squirrels.

     In spite of a difficult childhood--after all, the man was born three weeks before the stock market crash that ushered in the Great Depression--the stories he shared made it seem like they never knew how bad the times really were.  There were stories of swimming in Long Creek, running down the hill from their home toward the creek, stripping off clothing as they went and watching their young cousin, Cecil Jr., step gingerly behind them because he didn’t want to get his clothes dirty.  Together with his cousin Philip, they teamed up to wreak havoc on the squirrel population of LeFlore County, and one time he and his brother Ben even bagged a mink, which brought in a haul of fifteen dollars (Blake still has the gun that brought home the mink).  He left school at 16 and went to work at various jobs including pouring sidewalks with his brother-in-law all over Michigan and picking cotton and vegetables all over the country as a migrant worker..  He later obtained his GED, joined the Air Force fueling planes in Texas, serving as a cook stationed in Goose Bay, Canada, and went to college on the G.I. Bill, earning bachelors and masters degrees.

     His greatest legacy, though, was the one he built with his wife, Dora, who always went by Dory, Aunt Dory, or Meemaw.  They married on March 5, 1955, and enjoyed 64 years together until she passed on November 16 last year.  They had only one child, but together with Holli they made homes all over Oklahoma as he taught in various schools before settling in Red Oak.  They had three grandchildren--Kerry, Blake, and Jill--and they gave them all the room they wanted to explore and play on their home place on the hill in Red Oak.  There they tended a garden, built furniture and toys in Papa’s woodshop, and even raced a Shetland pony around a “racetrack” Papa mowed for them around the pasture.

     After 91 years spent as a husband, father, grandfather, teacher, and expert in almost every subject, Papa stepped into eternity with Jesus on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.  He is survived by his daughter, Holli, and her husband Leslie of Red Oak; grandchildren Kerry and his wife Cassie of Red Oak, Blake and his wife Tori of Poteau; and Jill of Red Oak.  He is also survived by seven great-grandchildren:  Maci, Hayden, Deacon, Layni, Averi, Ainslee, and Emma, as well as sisters-in-law Barbara Austin of Georgetown, Texas, and Juanita Ward of LeFlore, Oklahoma, and countless nieces and nephews scattered throughout the United States.

     Services will be held at Red Oak First Baptist Church on Friday, November 6, at 2 pm with a graveside service to follow at Oakland Cemetery in Poteau, Oklahoma.  Viewing for family and friends will be Thursday, November 5, from 6-8 pm at Evans-Miller Funeral Home in Poteau.

     In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the youth group of Red Oak First Baptist Church and/or the Special Olympics of Poteau at Arvest Bank under the account Team Poteau.

 

 

Marsha Ann Ritter

     Marsha Ann Ritter, 69, of Poteau, OK passed away Monday, November 2, 2020 in Poteau.  Marsha was born in Poteau on April 13, 1951 to Marshall LaMar & Clara Baker Bennett.  She owned and operated Marsha’s Café in Poteau.  She was preceded in death by her father & stepmother, Marshall & Lois LaMar and brother, Donald LaMar.                                                                                                              Survivors include her sons, David LaMar & Carl Lenard; brother, Ron LaMar & wife Eula; grandchildren, David LaMar Jr. & wife Leesa, Sara LaMar; great grandson, John Payton LaMar; other relatives, loved ones and friends.

          Services will be 2 pm, Friday, November 6, 2020 at Oakland Cemetery Pavilion, Poteau, OK with Jim Cook officiating.  Interment will follow.

          The family will be at the funeral home on Thursday evening from 6-8 pm to visit with family & friends.

Randy Eugene Davidson

 Randy Eugene Davidson, 66 of Stockton, CA passed from this life on March 31, 2020.  Randy was born in Poteau, OK on December 29, 1953 to Eldon & Peggy (Sumpter) Davidson.  After High School he joined the U.S. Army and proudly served his country for 2 years.  He later became an over the road truck driver, going coast to coast, before finding his passion in  working with cranes.  He enjoyed operating cranes and teaching others how to operate them.         Randy was preceded in death by his wife, Karen; his father; brother, Kevin & sister, Teresa.

 Randy is survived by his son and daughter in law, Raymond “Lil Randy” and Sadie Dehn; two granddaughters, Esmay and Amelia; his mother, Peggy, all of Stockton, CA; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

 A memorial service to honor one of Randy’s last requests, that his remains be buried in Hicks Chapel Cemetery in Fanshawe, OK, will be held 1 pm, Saturday, November 7, 2020 at the cemetery.  The family requests that face masks be worn and social distancing be practiced.

Jayden Ray Hobbs

 Jayden Ray Hobbs, 19, of Red Oak, OK passed away Wednesday, October 28, 2020 in Wister.  Jayden was born May 7, 2001  in Talihina, OK.   He was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Ray Caraway & Douglas Christian Rogers; niece Rylee Warren; cousins, Wesley Lew Bumpers & Billy Bob Rogers. 

          Survivors include his parents, Tracey & Clint Rogers of Oklahoma City, OK, Jason Hobbs of Albion, OK; sisters, Kimberlyn & Robbie Warren of Oklahoma City, Amber & Hunter Frazier of Poteau, OK; nephews & nieces, Jagger Hobbs, Ruger Warren, Aubree Warren & Brynlee Frazier; grandparents, Gayle Kennedy of Eufaula, OK, Trudy Caraway of Hugo, OK, William & Renell Davis of Mt. Vernon, OH; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins & friends.

          Services will be 2 pm, Wednesday, November 4, 2020 at Red Oak Baptist Church, Red Oak, OK with Sam Walden & Cole Brice officiating.  Interment will be at Red Oak Cemetery.  Pallbearers will be Noah Johnson, Garret Walkos, Austin White, Zach Ary,         Alex Jones & Dusty Lovell.  Honorary pallbearers will be Aiden Apker, John Wooten and Jagger Hobbs.

Gene Barnes

Gene Barnes, 91, of Poteau, OK passed away Friday, October 30, 2020 in Tulsa, OK.  Gene was born October 14, 1929 in Dike, TX to Lon Occo & Florence Ella (Hankins) Barnes.  He was a mechanic.  Gene served with the US Army in the Korean War.  He married Barbara Elaine Thompson on May 18, 1957 in Las Vegas, NV & they were together until her death on March 22, 2018. He & Barbara had no children.

          Survivors include his brother, Coy Barnes & sister, Bernice Curtis of California; stepson, Lewis Winn; numerous grandchildren; other relatives, loved ones and friends.

          Services will be 10 am, Wednesday, November 4, 2020 at Oakland Cemetery Pavilion, Poteau, OK.